On a tragic night in New Haven, Connecticut, the life of 51-year-old Mary Alice McClease was violently cut short. On August 26, 1966, a man named Arthur J. Davis entered her home at 16 Northeast Drive armed with a carbine rifle. Without a word, he raised the weapon and fired at McClease, who was sitting in a chair in the kitchen. The quiet evening was shattered by the sound of gunfire that would ultimately claim the lives of six people.
In the moments that followed the initial shot, the
scene descended into chaos. Neal White, a friend who had just driven McClease to New Haven, was the next to be gunned down as he sat at the kitchen table. Davis then turned his weapon on others in the house. Carolyn Sykes was shot as she tried to flee. The violence continued as Davis moved upstairs, where he shot and killed 14-year-old Francine McClease, Richard Leathers, and 5-year-old Michael Sykes.
After the horrific rampage, Davis fled the scene. His escape was short-lived, however, as he was later apprehended in New Jersey following a high-speed chase with state troopers. He was subsequently charged with six counts of first-degree murder. In November 1966, Arthur J. Davis was convicted and sentenced to death for his crimes. This sentence was later commuted to six consecutive life terms. The brutal attack left a lasting scar on the community and a devastating void in the lives of the victims' families.
